The OU coach's overprotectiveness of newcomers is renowned among OU fans and media. Most notably, he never deviates from his policy that no Sooner player can do an interview until he has actually played a down in a live game. That has been the case for Tommie Harris, Adrian Peterson – you name it.

This is the part where I tell you that the Sooners' crafty coach is playing head games in an effort to light a fire under the upperclassmen, right?

Not this time. Something really is different.

Among the key ingredients missing from OU's 2009 were big-play threats, especially on offense. For instance, according to cfbstats.com, the Sooners suffered a substantial drop-off in pass plays of 25 yards or more from 2008, when they led the nation with 53, to 33 last season. The number of running plays covering 20-plus yards fell from 20 in '08 to seven in '09.

Note that most of the names being bandied about for early run – Stills, Tony Jefferson, Roy Finch – are athletic, make-it-happen-type guys playing skill positions. My hunch is that Stoops and coordinators Kevin Wilson and Brent Venables are searching for an infusion of explosiveness on both sides of the ball, and they're looking to the freshman class to deliver that.

Other notes from the start of spring practice at OU and across the country:

*Stoops and Wilson continue to talk up the need for better offensive balance. Keep an eye on the distribution of plays in the opener against Utah State. The Aggies probably won't put up much of a fight against Oklahoma's O, but the ratio of runs to passes should give an indication of of how committed OU really is.

*Sherrod Harris' departure leaves the Longhorns with a razor-thin margin for error at quarterback. If sophomore Garrett Gilbert can stay healthy, it matters little. He goes down, though, and that leaves the job in the hands of either Connor Wood or Case McCoy, both true freshmen.

*Man, even months after leaving for the west coast, Lane Kiffin is the gift that keeps on giving for the media in SEC country. Think new USC athletic director Pat Haden will give him much rope? Me neither. Don't be shocked if Haden decides to cut ties sooner than later to erase all vestiges of the previous regime in Troy.